Rococo describes a style of art, architecture, and design that flourished in Europe during the 1700s, especially in France. The style is known for its playful elegance, intricate decoration, and love of curves and swirls. Imagine a palace room with walls covered in delicate gold scrollwork, painted with scenes of nobles having picnics in gardens, decorated with cherubs and flowers and shells. That's rococo.

The word comes from the French rocaille, which refers to the elaborate shell and rock designs used in garden grottoes. Rococo artists loved asymmetry, meaning things weren't perfectly balanced or matching on both sides. They preferred soft, cheerful colors like pale pink, powder blue, and cream instead of the bold, dramatic colors popular earlier.

Rococo furniture might have curved legs ending in fancy carved flowers, upholstered in silk with floral patterns. Rococo paintings often showed aristocrats in beautiful gardens or mythological scenes full of clouds and cupids. The style celebrated pleasure, romance, and beauty for beauty's sake.

Some people criticize rococo for being too fancy or frivolous, focusing on decoration rather than deeper meaning. But rococo craftspeople possessed incredible skill, creating objects of breathtaking delicacy and charm. When you see something extremely ornate and whimsical, with curves and flourishes everywhere, you might describe it as rococo.